The Relationship Between Masculinity, Feminity and Social Competence in Three Generations of Women.

Gillett, N.; And Others

This study was designed to further explore the relationship between sex role identity and social competence in a developmental context. Two specific questions were of concern: Do levels of masculinity, femininity and social competence vary by age, and does the relationship of masculinity and femininity remain constant and positive in non-college aged adults? Triads of women were drawn from three adult generations within the same families (N=36). The age range of the youngest generation was 18-27 (M=22), the parent generation age range was 39-56 (M=48), and the oldest generation age range was 58-94 (M=73). Both the Bem Sex Role Inventory and the Texas Social Behavior Inventory were administered to all subjects. The results of this study lend limited support to the notion that masculinity in women increases with age at least into middle age. They also provide further corroboration of studies which have found that high masculinity scores in women are associated with high social competence. The data in regard to femininity suggest that the relationship of femininity to social competence varies with the age and shifting roles of adult women. (Author/JEL)